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"An Honest Liar profiles the life of famed magician turned professional skeptic James “The Amazing” Randi as he embarks on a series of public crusades to expose America’s beloved psychics, mentalists, preachers, and faith healers with religious fervor. Along the way, the film will show how easily our perceptions can be fooled – by magicians, con artists, and even documentaries."

I watched the trailer a few times today and it looks fantastic. I don't know too much about the filmmakers' other work so I'll have to investigate that tonight but so far to my untrained eye, it looks really good. The website looks really nice too.

From the website:

Quote:

An Honest Liar will likely be released sometime in 2013.

Now we play the waiting game...

i

p.s - I'm just a poor uni student and I'm also considering donating. This film looks like a ten kinds of awesome.

ETA: Clicking through the tabs up the top in order (home, the story, etc.), Randi looks like the stages I go through when I'm being told something from the woo side. It goes from an interested look, to a skeptical look, to an angry look, to being fed up and not even looking at the person, to putting his head in his hands in frustration.

Talk about useless observations Great photos though, they really make the website.

I pledged to the Kickstarter campaign and started receiving the email updates, including one regarding the contest on IndieWire about which of the four contenders in the contest will get free consultation with the Tribeca Film Institute. Winning would also probably add free publicity.

What annoyed me about the IndieWire contest was their headline description of the film: "Project of the Day: Gay Magician The Amazing Randi Comes Out and Faces the System in 'An Honest Liar.'"

I am happy Randi felt comfortable coming out a few years ago, but think his sexual orientation is just one facet of his life. Plus, it came out so late in his life it is a very small part of his public persona. Randi is my hero because of his relentless crusade to protect people from a myriad of unscrupulous con-artists willing to prey on the innocent. He was my hero before I even considered his sexuality, and still is today, perhaps even more so.

Certainly, the inclusion in the documentary about the troubles Randi and Davyi (aka Jose) faced after Dayvi's arrest adds to the drama, and probably makes the documentary more commerically viable. And Randi's coming out might have been nudged by the news of the arrest and relationship. However, I just think that one sentence description is a cheap PR gimmick instead of what Randi's life is about. Given that I pledge based upon the content of the trailer, I also hope it is not an accurate synopsis of the film, which should focus on his legacy as a crusador against fraud.

Hopefully the IndieWire website is the one who came up with that tag line, not the film makers.

They were filming at TAM 9, including at the volunteer lunch. I've therefore contributed in the hope of seeing myself on the big screen.

__________________The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand Russell
Zooterkin is correct Darat
Nerd! Hokulele
Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

And most importantly, since I already pledged a donation to help get it distributed and get my own copy of the movie, I want more people to chip in so I get the free bonus of the custom playing cards too

Do you mean TAM 10? Because they were there, and I talked to them for about 20 minutes. Were they also at TAM 9?

Not sure if I saw them at TAM 10; they definitely didn't film at the volunteer lunch that year. They did film it at TAM9.

__________________The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand Russell
Zooterkin is correct Darat
Nerd! Hokulele
Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

I stumbled upon the project by accident and got in my pledge in the final few hours. And...woo hoo! I'm getting a signed book by Randi and some of the other cool stuff. I can't wait until the film is completed.

__________________"Hercules, what is a secret?"
"Why, a secret is something you tell practically everybody confidentially." Wheeler and Woolsey in "Diplomaniacs."

The Kickstarter is now closed, with a fantastic final total of $246,989, but it's still possible to contribute and get some of the rewards at the project site.

__________________The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand Russell
Zooterkin is correct Darat
Nerd! Hokulele
Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

You can buy the DVD, Blu-Ray or as a digital download from the honest liar site. Just check out the "Shop" menu link.

It's not available yet, though. There are some licensing issues for some of the clips and/or music, which they can use in the live showings they're doing at the moment, but are not (yet) licensed to use in a DVD. They're hoping to be able to be able to finance what's needed before releasing the DVD (or else find an alternative solution, which will mean the DVD is slightly different).

(That's from memory of the update I got as one of the kickstarter contributors.)

__________________The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand Russell
Zooterkin is correct Darat
Nerd! Hokulele
Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

It's not available yet, though. There are some licensing issues for some of the clips and/or music, which they can use in the live showings they're doing at the moment, but are not (yet) licensed to use in a DVD. They're hoping to be able to be able to finance what's needed before releasing the DVD (or else find an alternative solution, which will mean the DVD is slightly different).

(That's from memory of the update I got as one of the kickstarter contributors.)

Ah, thanks for that Zooterkin. I've been checking periodically as I can't wait to get my hands on it. Being in SA, I'm obviously not going to be able to make it to any of the screenings.

At TAM the filmmakers emphasized that we (TAM attendees, familiar with Randi) were not the target audience for the film and that they thought we would be their toughest audience. Despite this, I think the film was very well received--I heard only positive comments, and Randi and Deyvi and the filmmakers got standing ovations after the showing I attended. It is a good movie.

I think the film will continue to have a wider release, and will likely be available for renting or buying digitally down the road, if you aren't able to catch it in the theaters.

Just heard Randi and the director on Sirius XM (not sure channel, was just randomly scanning when I heard his voice). Apparentky they are doing some screenings in NYC with Q&A to follow. Wish I could be in NYC right now...

Just heard Randi and the director on Sirius XM (not sure channel, was just randomly scanning when I heard his voice). Apparentky they are doing some screenings in NYC with Q&A to follow. Wish I could be in NYC right now...

Here's an article from Variety on a screening earlier this week at the Magic Castle.

They were filming at TAM 9, including at the volunteer lunch. I've therefore contributed in the hope of seeing myself on the big screen.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but....

I did see Linda & Karl. And DJ. And Michael Feldman (NECSS organizer) and his dad. And my friend Daniela was in the credits. And I was too!!! Sort of. At least someone with my name. I'm gonna tell the girls it is me.***

***Actually, it could be me. I donated at one of the higher levels, but I don't think it was supposed to include a credit. But I suppose it's possible they decided to give a credit to anyone above $X. And I did meet Tyler Measom at TAM X (or maybe XI), and we spoke for about a half hour in the casino, and he asked my name and recalled the amount of my donation, so....who knows? I may try contacting him to find out.